Letter perfect

Photos by Stacie Joy 

We spotted Kash updating the film titles at Village East by Angelika yesterday on Second Avenue at 12th Street ... the theater's south-facing signage features their special and classic screenings...

It's one of NYC's last analog marquees.

A quick conversation about 'The Chat,' a short film by East Village resident Artie Brennan

"The Chat," a short film by longtime East Village resident Artie Brennan, is part of the SOHO International Film Festival this weekend. 

"This film is the most personal piece of art that I have ever made," Brennan, an actor, comedian and filmmaker, told us. "It deals with the conversation a couple has to have when the wife is diagnosed with breast cancer." 

The narrative hits very close to home and is based on the difficult conversations he and his wife had after learning she had cancer.

As he wrote in his director's statement: 

"We are people who find the funny in most things, and this was no exception. The real-life conversations were adapted into the screenplay and with her approval, I decided to make the film in hopes that others who have to have 'The Chat' will find it comforting in knowing they are not alone." 

His feature, in which Brennan stars opposite Emmy Harrington, is part of the Grand Streets Program that screens Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Village East by Angelika on Second Avenue and 12th Street. You can find ticket info here. 

And a quick preview...

 

Noted

A promposal at the Village East by Angelika on Second Avenue and 12th Street. 

And do you remember the one about what biology students wear to prom? 

Designer genes.

Entering week No. 5 for the Veselka documentary at Village East by Angelika

Crowds keep showing up to the Village East by Angelika on Second Avenue and 12th Street for screenings of "Veselka: The Rainbow on the Corner at the Center of the World" ... so the documentary on the longtime East Village diner keeps getting extended. 

The film is now in its fifth week here, with daily screenings scheduled through Thursday. The screening tonight (6:30) and tomorrow (3 p.m.) includes a Q&A afterward (tickets here) ... and there are other incentives (as seen below)...

See @VeselkaMovie tonight thru Sunday (3/22-3/24) at the Village East (@AngelikaFilm_NY) and enjoy filmmaker Q&As after. Then…FREE dessert at @veselkanyc with @VeselkaMovie ticket stub. And free Veselka Musette Bag given out in-theater after the Q&As (one bag per ticket)! pic.twitter.com/yidxIOKyD1

— “Veselka” Documentary (2024) (@VeselkaMovie) March 22, 2024

Thursday's parting shot

Photo by Lola Sáenz 

A favorite moment on Thursday evenings outside Village East by Angelika on Second Avenue and 12th Street — the changing of the letters on the marquee...

Tuesday's parting shot

Halloween night at Village East by Angelika, 12th Street and Second Avenue.

Spellbound! It's the return of Hitchcocktober

Somehow, it's Oct. 3 already... and we're late to note the return of Hitchcocktober to Village East by Angelika on Second Avenue at 12th Street. 

And here's this year's slate of Alfred Hitchcock films ... starting tomorrow (Wednesday!) night:

• Oct. 4 — "Rear Window"
• Oct. 11 — "To Catch a Thief"
• Oct. 18 — "Vertigo"
• Oct. 25 — "Shadow of a Doubt"
• Oct. 31 — "Psycho"

Find ticket info here. And be warned: Advance tickets sell quickly, especially the screenings in the large auditorium — the Jaffe Art Theatre. (The Halloween night screenings of "Psycho" are nearly sold out.)

Sunday's opening shot

Special feature last night at the Village East by Angelika on Second Avenue at 12th Street... (we don't know what Alessandra said).

And who has seen "Talk to Me"? 

Thanks to Michelle Roelofs for the photo!

Next up in 'Classics in Black & White' at Village East by Angelika — 'Double Indemnity'

The monthly "Classics in Black & White" series continues tomorrow (Monday!) at Village East by Angelika on Second Avenue at 12th Street. 

Screening tomorrow (still Monday!) at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. — Billy Wilder's "Double Indemnity" from 1944. Find ticket info here. 

FYI: It's MURDER!

 

The Tribeca Festival takes over Village East by Angelika on 2nd Avenue

Even though a decent movie hasn't been made since 1915's "The Birth of a Nation," people keep trying and then hosting film festivals.

Screenings for the Tribeca Festival got underway on Wednesday at the Village East by Angelika on Second Avenue and 12th Street. 

BTW — the screenings are at various theaters around the city, not just here. Find a list of what's playing at this link.

As mentioned, the "Kim's Video" documentary on the former EV staple of the same name is showing here next Tuesday and Wednesday. Find ticket info here. 

Saturday's parting shot

At the Village East by Angelika on Second Avenue at 12th Street ... previously ...

A special screening of 'Grease' at Village East in honor of the late Olivia Newton-John

The Village East by Angelika on Second Avenue and 12th Street is screening "Grease" on Monday night in a tribute to Olivia Newton-John, who died this past week at age 73. 

The classic 1978 musical plays at 7 p.m. in the theater's large auditorium (aka Jaffe Art Theatre).

You can buy advance tickets here.

At the NYC premiere of 'The Crusaders'

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Last Thursday night saw the NYC premiere of "The Crusaders" at the Village East by Angelika on Second Avenue and 12th Street. 

This is the first film for Maxx Starr (below right with Jahmal Kirwan aka Manhattan Mal), co-owner of Fun City Tattoo on St. Mark's Place, who wrote and directed the short (24-minute) crime noir filmed entirely in the East Village. (International Bar on First Avenue and Nublu Classic on Avenue C served as locations for several scenes.)

EVG contributor Stacie Joy was at the premiere as moviegoers and other guests waited to enter the auditorium...

Members of the cast were present, including the two leads — Tessa Gourin...

... and Frederick Rusak...

Other cast members include Jerry Dean, Skam Dust, Peter Greene, Sophia Lamar, Santiago Melchiorre, Christopher Ponds and Neko White. 

The film was screened in the large auditorium — the Jaffe Art Theatre...

You can follow @thecrusadersnyc for updates on upcoming screenings.

Monday night movie classics coming to the Village East by Angelika

The Village East by Angelika is launching a monthly "iconic classics" series on Monday nights at the theater on 12th Street and Second Avenue.

Up first: "2001: A Space Oddessy" in 70mm ... in the large Jaffe Art auditorium ... showing two times tomorrow night: 7 and 10:15.

Upcoming films include "Breakfast at Tiffany's" (Feb. 14), the Spencer Tracy and Ingrid Bergman version of "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (March 14) and "The Wizard of Oz" (April 11).

Find tickets and showtimes at this link. 

Serving up 'Licorice Pizza' this Thanksgiving

"Licorice Pizza," Paul Thomas Anderson's well-received coming-of-age film, opens this evening in 70mm at the Village East by Angelika on Second Avenue at 12th Street. (Given the 70mm format, it will be playing in the large auditorium — the Jaffe Art Theatre.) 

The thumbnail plot of the comedy-drama: "Alana Kane and Gary Valentine grow up, run around and fall in love in California's San Fernando Valley in the 1970s."

You can find ticket info here. 

And the trailer because it has Bowie's "Life on Mars" ...

 

It's nearly show time as NYC theaters prep for reopening

After being dark for nearly a year, movie theaters in NYC are permitted to reopen tomorrow at 25-percent capacity. 

However, don't expect to see all of the local movie houses up and running right away. 

Here's what to expect, starting with the Village East Cinema on Second Avenue at 12th Street (marquee photo above by Doug) ... which will have a new name...

We’re reopening Friday March 5, and we are excited to welcome @CityCinemasNYC to the Angelika Film Center family, as Village East by Angelika and Cinema 123 by Angelika!
For more information, visit us at https://t.co/K3mu1MJiw8.
See you at the movies! pic.twitter.com/T1W311Xu6p

— Angelika Film Center (@AngelikaFilmNY) February 26, 2021

Before the pandemic, the Village East Cinema showed movies that originally opened at the Angelika Film Center. Plus, the Village East Cinema is owned by City Cinemas, a branch of Reading International. The Angelika is also under the Reading International umbrella. So they're keeping it all in the Reading family.

Find the cinema's website here. 

Elsewhere in the downtown film community... (and masks are required to be theaters)...

• Angelika Film Center., Houston Street. Opening on March 5. Website here. 

• Anthology Film Archives, Second Avenue at Second Street. No reopening date. Will continue with virtual cinema. 

• Cinema Village, 12th Street. The small theater is hoping to reopen around April 1, per the Post. 

• Film Forum, East Houston. Opening on April 2.

• IFC Center. Opening on March 5. And per IndieWire: "Mandatory mask-wearing at all times, no concession sales, and no eating and drinking allowed in theaters." 

• Loews Village 7, Third Avenue at 11th Street. Opening March 5. Website here. 

• Metrograph, Ludlow Street. No reopening date yet. Will continue with virtual programming. 

• Regal Cinemas, Union Square and Essex Crossing. No return date just yet. 

• Quad Cinema, 13th Street. Opening on March 5. (Updated)

City Cinemas Village East is selling very large bags of popcorn

In case you are looking for some movie-theater-quality popcorn to enhance your home streaming/DVD viewing... City Cinemas Village East on Second Avenue at 12th Street started (as of yesterday) selling very large to-go bags of popcorn from 4 to 7 p.m. ...

The bags are $20, and it will likely last until, say, 2033...


...it's also a way to help support the theater during the COVID-19 PAUSE...



Thanks to Lola Sáenz for the photos!

Tuesday's parting shot

The marquee at City Cinemas Village East on Second Avenue at 12th Street. Now playing: Stay safe and healthy. (Please do!)

Photo by Steven

Reminders: Movies are $8 before noon every day at the Village East on 2nd Avenue

Just a reminder about movie prices at the City Cinemas Village East on Second Avenue and 12th Street: Screenings before noon are $8 every day. (Regular ticket price is $15.) In case you want to catch up on a movie during this holiday break...



I went to see "Honey Boy" and "JoJo Rabbit" on recent weekdays before noon. Aside from the price, it's a nice way to enjoy a film without the crowds. There were two other people in my "Honey Boy" screening. "JoJo Rabbit" played to 15-20 people the other morning.

Hitchcocktober concludes with 'Psycho' tonight (Halloween!)

Hitchcocktober concludes tonight with two screenings of "Psycho," 7:30 in the big auditorium — the Jaffe Art Theatre — and 8:30 at City Cinemas Village East on Second Avenue and 12th Street.

Refresher...



Find advance ticket info at this link.